Canadian Commemorative Bullion

Canada’s Royal Canadian Mint is recognized around the globe for the purity of its products and the impressive designs that grace everything from its proof coins to its investment-grade bullion bars. Canadian commemorative bullion products are sought after by investors around the globe. The standard of production at the Royal Canadian Mint today sees all of its gold and silver products struck with a minimal fineness of .9999 purity. While the Royal Canadian Mint is the producer of some of the most popular bullion products right now, some of its silver products stand head and shoulders above the competition.

Silver Canadian Polar Bear Coin

The Royal Canadian Mint knew it had a hit on its hands after the successful release of the Silver Canadian Wildlife Series in 2011. The six-coin, three-year series introduced the world to the natural creatures that inhabit Canada through brilliant coin designs. The products were so beloved by investors and collectors alike, that the Royal Canadian Mint introduced a slight variation on the program.

A new set of animal-themed coins celebrating species commonly found in Canada was introduced in 2013, but these coins came with a slight twist. While the reverse motif would again focus on the unique inhabitants of Canada, the value of these coins came from their limited mintage and one-of-a-kind weight. The 2013 Silver Canadian Polar Bear coin was struck in 1.5 troy ounces of .9999 pure silver, making them the first-ever coins from the mint in that weight.

The polar bear was a natural choice for the nation of Canada. While most associate Canada with frigid temperatures and the frozen tundra, the polar bear lives for those conditions and embraces the harsh environment of the Arctic Circle. The polar bear is the perfect fit for Canada, so much so that of the 20,000 polar bears in existence in the wild, the single largest concentration of the animals can be found in Canada. Highlights of these popular coins include the following details:

First-ever 1.5 troy ounce coin from the Royal Canadian Mint, and first in a series of 1.5 oz coins.

Silver Polar Bear coins ship in individual flips, mint-sealed tubes of 15, or Monster Boxes of 300, all courtesy of the Royal Canadian Mint.

Each coin bears a face value of $8 (CAD) backed by the Canadian government.

Obverse features a right-profile effigy of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, as designed by Susanna Blunt in 2003.

Reverse includes the image of a massive polar bear as it makes its way across the frozen tundra in search of fresh food.

Most coins on Silver.com available in Brilliant Uncirculated condition.

The 2013 1.5 oz Silver Canadian Polar Bear coin often features “milky surfaces” in its finish, a common issue in Royal Canadian Mint coins at the time. This does fall within the definition of a Brilliant Uncirculated product, as BU coins have no signs of wear and tear, but may contain breaks in the luster, spotted surfaces, or contact marks from striking.

Silver Canadian Arctic Fox Coin

Following the successful release of the 2013 1.5 oz Silver Canadian Polar Bear coin, the Royal Canadian Mint decided to release a second coin in the popular 1.5 troy ounce weight. While the mint set a limited mintage for the Silver Canadian Polar Bear, there was no announced mintage for the Silver Canadian Arctic Fox, due in part to the massive demand for the coins after the release of the 2013 design.

Like the polar bear before it, the arctic fox was a perfect choice for a design on a Royal Canadian Mint coin. The fox, also known as the white fox or polar fox, is one of the few animals that can live in the harsh conditions of the Arctic Circle alongside the likes of the polar bear. Unlike the polar bear, the fox has a unique feature that sets it apart in the wild. The fox is capable of changing the color of its fur with the seasons, transitioning from a white coat in the winter months to a brown coat in the warmer months.

The Royal Canadian Mint released the 1.5 oz Silver Canadian Arctic Fox coin in 2014, and again used its standard .9999 fine silver content. Additional highlights of this popular coin series include:

2nd release of animal-themed 1.5 troy ounce coins.

Coins ship to you in an individual flip, sealed RCM tubes of 15, or RCM Monster Boxes of 300 coins.

Each individual coin bears a face value of $8 (CAD) that is fully backed by the government of Canada.

Obverse features the right-profile image of Queen Elizabeth II, and represents the third generation image of the Queen. This design is from Canadian artist Susanna Blunt, and was designed in 2003.

Reverse features the fluffy arctic fox in its natural habitat as it scans the horizon for signs of life, and potential prey. This design came from Maurice Gervais.

Most coins are available in Brilliant Uncirculated condition.

Many of the 2014 1.5 oz Silver Canadian Arctic Fox coins available on Silver.com are in BU condition, which indicates the coin has no signs of wear and tear. You may, however, notice breaks in the luster, spotted surfaces, or contact marks.

Silver Canadian Bison

The newest Canadian commemorative bullion product from the Royal Canadian Mint is the annual Silver Canadian Bison. First introduced in 2015, this coin is exclusively offered from the Royal Canadian Mint through Silver.com in the United States. The coin series is a first-ever 1.25 troy ounce coin that includes .9999 fine silver, with a face value of $8 (CAD) fully backed by the government of Canada. The Royal Canadian Mint will produce a new image on the reverse face of these coins each. Features of the available design on these coins to date include:

2015 Obverse: As is customary, the right-profile portrait of Queen Elizabeth II from Susanna Blunt is featured on the obverse. Her Majesty’s effigy is included alongside engravings that read “Elizabeth II” and the face value of the coin as “8 Dollars.”

2015 Reverse: The reverse design features the North American bison as it runs across the open plains of Canada, with rolling hills visible in the distant background.

2016 Obverse: Queen Elizabeth II’s right-profile portrait is now accompanied by engravings that read “Elizabeth II,” “D.G. Regina,” and the face value of the coin.

2016 Reverse: On the reverse for 2016 is the image of a bison standing at the water’s edge, its head lowered to drink from the stream. IN the background, a jagged rockface rises to meet the horizon.

New Security features: The micro-laser engraved radial lines and maple leaf added to the Maple Leaf bullion program in 2014 is now available on the 2016 Silver Canadian Bison coin. This includes radial lines visible on both sides, and a maple leaf privy on the reverse that bears in the year of issue, visible only under intense magnification.

Silver Canadian Bison coins are available from Silver.com in individual flips, sealed tubes containing 20 coins, or Monster Boxes containing a total of 400 coins. Many are available in Brilliant Uncirculated condition.

A Note on Condition

Many of the Royal Canadian Mint commemorative bullion products mentioned above are in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, which means there are no signs of wear and tear, though you may notice breaks in the luster, spotted surfaces, or contact marks from the striking process.

Some of these coins, a very limited number, are available in certified condition from the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation or the Professional Coin Grading Service. Coins from either of these services often have a MS69 or MS70 grade. MS69 is a near-perfect grade, indicating a coin with a maximum of two minor detracting flaws. An MS70 coin is a perfect product, with its full, original mint luster and no detracting flaws.

About the Royal Canadian Mint

The Royal Canadian Mint was founded in 1908 as a branch of the Royal Mint system in London, UK. The first striking press was turned on in Ottawa in January of that year, and a secondary facility was built in Winnipeg in 1976. This alleviated the need for Canadian currency to be produced outside the nation, as some notable coinage such as the nation’s 10-cent piece were being struck in the United States at the Philadelphia Mint facility.

Today, the Royal Canadian Mint is one of the world leaders in silver, gold, platinum, and palladium production. Canadian commemorative bullion products are sought after by investors around the globe, both for their purity and their stunning design features. In addition to circulation coinage and banknotes for the Canadian government, the Royal Canadian Mint strikes official currencies for nations such as New Zealand, produces medallions, tokens, and even Olympic medals for events such as the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games.

Purchasing Canadian Commemorative Bullion on Silver.com

Silver.com accepts various forms of payment for your purchase of Canadian commemorative bullion. You can pay for your products with a Visa or MasterCard credit/debit card. We also accept paper checks, bank wire transfers, and PayPal fund transfers. The latter two forms of payment often have immediate processing times, while credit cards average one business day and paper checks take up to six business days. Those paying by paper check or bank wire transfer enjoy a 4% discount on their purchase price.

All Silver.com products ship using an affordable, tiered pricing scale. Any purchase in excess of $3,000 in total is eligible for free standard shipping and insurance, with expedited shipping available at an additional cost. The US Postal Service and UPS handle shipping of all Silver.com products. If your shipment is lost or stolen, we’ll work with the carrier to recover the packages. If that is not possible, we’ll file an insurance claim on your behalf to recover your purchasing funds.

If you have any questions about Canadian commemorative bullion products, feel free to reach out to Silver.com. One of our associates is available at 888-989-7223. You can also connect with us online using our website’s live chat feature, or submit your questions via email.